Hegseth hit with 'rare intervention' as Pentagon generals grow tired of his act: NYT [View all]
Source: Raw Story
July 26, 2025 8:19AM ET
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing opposition from Pentagon generals, including from the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, as questions about his leadership grow. According to a Saturday report from the New York Times, a recent decision by the former Fox News personality to deny a promotion to senior Army officer Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, because Hegseth believed he was a leaker, set off a furor at the Pentagon.
As the Times' Greg Jaffe, Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper reported, after Sims was cleared of allegations of leaking, Hegseth agreed to the promotion only to later change his mind.
"Mr. Hegseth’s sudden reversal prompted a rare intervention from Gen. Dan Caine, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He urged Mr. Hegseth to reconsider," the Times is reporting before adding, "Mr. Hegseth met with General Sims one final time but refused to budge."
The report notes that the latest clash with the generals is part of a growing problem as questions grow about the embattled secretary's performance. "Mr. Hegseth’s actions could shape the military’s top ranks for years to come. His insistence on absolute loyalty, backed with repeated threats of polygraphs, also creates uncertainty and mistrust that threaten to undermine the readiness and effectiveness of the force," Pentagon insiders told the Times.
Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/hegseth-pentagon-revolt/
Link to NYT article - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/us/politics/hegseth-pentagon-leadership.html
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